When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To fuel (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to fuel" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
They decided to fuel their car before the long drive.
Fuelling (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "fuelling" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Fuelling the car can be expensive.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To fuel (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To fuel the fire, they added more wood.
To fuel the fire, they added more wood.
- "*To fuel* the fire" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (to fuel) + noun phrase (the fire).
- 2Object
She wants me to fuel her car.
She wants me to fuel her car.
- "Me *to fuel* her car" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to fuel* her car).
- 3Adjective Modifier
We need a gas station to fuel our vehicle.
We need a gas station to fuel our vehicle.
- "*To fuel* our vehicle" modifies the noun "gas station."
- Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a gas station *to fuel* our vehicle).
Fuelling (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Fuelling your vehicle regularly is important for its performance.
Fuelling your vehicle regularly is important for its performance.
- "*Fuelling* your vehicle regularly" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (important for its performance).
- 2Object
I enjoy fuelling my motorcycle at the gas station.
I enjoy fuelling my motorcycle at the gas station.
- "*Fuelling* my motorcycle at the gas station" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*fuelling* my motorcycle at the gas station).
- 3Object of Preposition
He has a passion for fuelling cars.
He has a passion for fuelling cars.
- "For *fuelling* cars" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *fuelling* cars).
Verbs Taking Infinitives/Gerunds as Objects
The following are verbs that can take only the base form of the verb (infinitive), only the -ing form (gerund), or both.Verbs Taking Infinitives as Objects
Example
He plans to fuel his motorcycle at the gas station tomorrow.
I hope to fuel my car with premium gasoline.
They want to fuel their truck with diesel.
She decided to fuel the generator with propane.
We agreed to fuel the aircraft before takeoff.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys fuelling her car at the self-service station.
They recommend regular fuelling for optimal engine performance.
I dislike the task of fuelling vehicles in cold weather.
He avoids fuelling his car at expensive gas stations.
Can you imagine yourself fuelling a racing car?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
He likes to fuel his boat with biofuel. He likes fuelling his boat with biofuel.
We started to fuel our truck with natural gas. We started fuelling our truck with natural gas.
She began to fuel her car at the new petrol station. She began fuelling her car at the new petrol station.
